Chapter 30: Jack's Obsession

As the moon hung high in the night sky, casting its silvery glow over the sprawling city below, Jack sat in the opulent comfort of his private residence. His heart was a cacophony of emotions—anticipation, excitement, and a simmering undercurrent of jealousy. He was still basking in the aftermath of the announcement that had propelled him into the top three finalists for the Innovation family headship. But more than the ambition and power, his mind was fixated on one thing: Marcelino.

In Jack's lavish sitting room, every surface gleamed with the trappings of wealth and taste. The walls were adorned with contemporary art, each piece carefully curated to reflect his eclectic taste. Plush furniture invited relaxation, and the gentle strains of classical music filled the air, creating an atmosphere of refined elegance.

Jack's eyes glinted with a manic light as he thought about Marcelino. “Oh, my darling John,” he murmured to himself, using Marcelino's given name. “Tonight, would be a great night. I remembered that you will be my darling and have a one-night stand with me. I can't wait for that time to happen.” His eyes gleamed with a dangerous mix of lust and obsession.

Jack's fixation on Marcelino went back years, to a time when they were both much younger, when the world had seemed simpler and his dreams had been less tangled with ambition and vengeance.

Years earlier, when they were both teenagers, Jack had first dared to confess his feelings to Marcelino. It was a summer afternoon, and they had been alone in the sprawling gardens of the Innovation estate. The sun was warm, casting long shadows across the manicured lawns as they walked side by side.

Jack's heart had raced with a mix of excitement and fear. He had known, even then, that his feelings were unusual, that society would frown upon them. But his infatuation with Marcelino was too powerful to ignore.
“John,” Jack had said, using the name that Marcelino was born with. His voice had been tentative, laced with nerves. “There's something I need to tell you.”

Marcelino had paused, turning to look at him with those piercing eyes that seemed to see straight through to his soul. “What is it, Jack?” he had asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Jack had taken a deep breath, summoning all his courage. “I like you, John. I mean, I really like you. More than just friends.”

There had been a moment of silence, a charged pause that hung between them like a physical thing. Jack had held his breath, waiting for Marcelino's response.
But instead of the acceptance and understanding he had hoped for, Marcelino's face had twisted with anger and disgust. “You are a man, same as me,” he had snapped, his voice cold and cutting. “Don't act like you are a woman. What I have is what you have! I don't like a gay! Shameless fucking gay!”

The words had hit Jack like a physical blow, and he had flinched back, his heart shattering into a thousand pieces. Marcelino's rejection had been like a knife to his heart, and the pain of it had lingered for years, festering into something dark and twisted.

In the present, Jack sat in his luxurious home, remembering that painful moment with a mixture of bitterness and resolve. The more he thought about Marcelino's words, the more determined he became to prove himself worthy of the man he still loved, despite the rejection and cruelty.

“You’ll see, John,” Jack murmured to himself, his voice a whisper in the quiet room. “I’ll make you see that I’m the only one who truly understands you, the only one who deserves you.”
His obsession with Marcelino had grown over the years, transforming into a consuming desire to possess him, to have him all to himself.

Jack had spent years perfecting his image, creating a facade that was both alluring and dangerous. He had indulged in his darkest fantasies, collecting lovers and discarding them like playthings, using his power and influence to control those around him.

No man had ever truly satisfied him, because they weren’t Marcelino.
Jack's thoughts turned to Angelic, the woman who had captured Marcelino's heart. The very thought of her made his blood boil with jealousy and rage. He imagined her face, her smile, and the way she looked at Marcelino with love and affection.

“She doesn’t deserve him,” Jack seethed, his hands curling into fists. “She doesn’t know him like I do. She’s just a distraction, someone he’ll forget when he sees how much I love him.”
His mind raced with thoughts of revenge, of ways to eliminate Angelic from Marcelino’s life without him ever suspecting Jack’s involvement. He knew he had to be careful, to bide his time and wait for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Jack had always been patient, a master at playing the long game.
As he sat in his dimly lit study, a plan began to form in his mind, a way to win Marcelino over and rid himself of the competition once and for all.

In another part of the city, Marcelino was oblivious to the storm of emotions swirling around Jack. He was focused on his own plans, his own ambitions. The recent family gathering had only reinforced his determination to secure his position within the Innovation family.

Marcelino had always been driven, always been willing to do whatever it took to succeed. But beneath the ambition lay a complex web of emotions, a tangled mix of loyalty and betrayal, love and hatred.
As he sat alone in his room, he thought of Angelic, of her strength and resilience. She was a formidable ally, and he knew that together they could achieve great things. But there was a part of him that was wary, a part that wondered if he could truly trust her.

The world of the Innovation family was a dangerous one, filled with intrigue and betrayal.
Marcelino knew that every move he made was being watched, that every decision was scrutinized by those who would see him fail. But he was determined to rise above it all, to prove himself worthy of the family’s legacy.

His thoughts turned to the future, to the challenges that lay ahead.
The battle for the family headship was far from over, and Marcelino knew that he would need to navigate the treacherous waters of family politics with care.
But beneath the ambition lay something deeper, something more personal.

As he thought of Jack, of the strange and complicated relationship they had shared over the years, Marcelino felt a pang of something he couldn’t quite define. Was it guilt? Regret? He wasn’t sure. But he knew that Jack’s feelings for him were both a burden and a weapon, something he could use to his advantage if he played his cards right.

“I have to stay focused,” Marcelino reminded himself, his mind returning to the task at hand. “This is just one step in a much larger game.”

Back at Jack’s residence, the air was charged with anticipation as he prepared for the evening ahead. He had waited for this moment for years, and now it was finally within his grasp.
Jack's heart raced with excitement as he thought of the night to come, of the moment when Marcelino would finally be his.

He had worked tirelessly to reach this point, to position himself as one of the top three finalists in the Innovation family’s hierarchy. Now, he was ready to claim his prize.
As he stood before the mirror, adjusting his appearance with meticulous care, Jack allowed himself a moment of triumph. He had come so far, overcome so much, and now he was ready to take what he believed was rightfully his.

“Tonight, John,” Jack whispered to his reflection, a wicked smile playing on his lips. “Tonight, you will see that I am the only one who truly understands you, the only one who deserves your love.”
The night was just beginning, and Jack was ready to play his part in the intricate dance of power and desire that defined the world of the Innovation family.